Vacuum cleaner



June 13, 1944. R HALLOCK 2,351,507 I VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 24, 19422 Sheets-Sheet 1 W ME BY ATT/WA/EY June 13, 1944. R L. HALLOCK VACUUMCLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24 1942 7 INVENTOR. 2

ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUMCLEANER- Robert Lay Hallock, Larchmont, N. Y. Application June 24, 1942,Serial No. 448,191

2 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaner nozzles. It is particularlyadapted for use in connection with vacuum cleaners of the pull-tanktype, although it is also useful in connection with vacuum cleaners ofother types. In a vacuum cleaner of the pull-tank type, a motor, fan,dust bag and filter are mounted in a tank and a suction cleaning tool isconnected thereto by means of a long flexible tube or hose. In use, thetank is pulled about by the hose when it is desired to clean indiflerent areas.

The principal object of the invention is to do away with the necessityfor the operator of the cleaner carrying about with him a set of toolsfor cleaning difierent objects. By using the invention, the operator canclean all types of surfaces without having to put down the hose toobtain a different cleaning tool from a tool box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaning toolhaving two or more cleaning nozzles, any one of which may be attached tothe vacuum cleaner hose while another is in use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a multi-nozzlecleaning tool which may also be used as an elbow for connecting thevacuum cleaner hose to a long wand or tube such as is used in cleaningthe rug or floor of a room.

A further object of the invention is to construct a cleaning tool whichmay also be used as a tube or wand section.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description thereof isset forth below.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 isa side elevation showing the general assembly of parts when theinvention is in use and the vacuum cleaner is set up for cleaning a rugor floor. Fig. 2 is a side view on a somewhat larger scale, showing theconnection of the vacuum cleaner hose to the tool when the upholsterynozzle is in use. Fi 3 is a side view, partly in section, showing thetool when used as an elbow to connect the hose to the wand in the mannershown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top view of the tool. Fig. 5 is a view ofone end of the tool, showing the plan of the upholstery nozzle, and Fig.6 is a sectional side elevation showing particularly the construction ofthe dusting brush end of the tool.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a vacuum cleaner tank I to which are connecteda flexible hose 2, the tool 3 embodying the present invention, a wand '4and a suction nozzle 5. Fig. 2 shows the manner of inserting the tube 1rotatably attached to the hose 2 into the dusting brush end of thecombinationtool. As shown best in Fig. 3, the tube 1 maybe slightlytapered, corresponding to a similar taper on the inside of thecombination tool so that they may be pushed together into a nearlyair-tight connection. There may be a I similar taper on the end of thewand l, corresponding to the taper on the inside of the dusting brushend of the combination tool 3 so that these parts may likewise be pushedinto sealing engagement with one another. Preferably the tapers on allof these parts are the same so that the position of the combination toolmay be changed without spoiling the efliciency of the connection.Although in the illustrated embodiment a taper fit is shown, any othermeans of interconnecting the parts may beused. F01 example, the tubesmight be perfectly cylindrical so as to telescope within one another andmeans might be provided for locking the parts in engagement. It is, ofcourse, unnecessary that a perfectly air-tight junction be made.

The particular form of the suction nozzles formed on the ends of thecombination tool may be varied as desired. In the particular embodimentshown, one end of the tool is formed as an upholstery nozzle as shown inFig. 5. The end of the tube forming the body of the tool is flaredoutwardly to provide a long lip 8 so-that a wide area may be coveredwhen this cleaning tool is in use. To prevent light fabrics from beingdrawn into the end of the nozzle, the gliders 9 are provided.

As shown in Fig. 6, the other end of the tool may be provided with adusting brush comprising a bristle ring supported in the cup shapedflared end of the tool. A resilient member H made of rubber or othersuitable material is provided within the bristle ring to prevent thebristles from being forced into the end of the tool when a tube isinserted therein. The member II is preferably flexible so as not tointerfere with the bristles l0 and to facilitate insertion of the tube.As shown, the member Il may be continued to form in a single piece aseal l2 between the bristle ring and the tube and also abumper l3.

When it is desired to clean a floor or wall or other area considerablyremoved from the hands of the operator, the vacuum cleaner parts areassembled as shown in Fig. 1. The tool 3 which is bent to form an elbowpipe makes a convenient handle for the operator to grasp when pushingthe suction nozzle 5. The suction nozzle 5 may be of the duplex type sothat it can be used on a variety of surfaces. When it is desired toclean upholstery or to dust the top of a table or to clean a curtain orother surface near the hands of the operator, the wand l is removed fromthe tool 3 which may then be used itself as a suction cleaning nozzle.Either end of the tool may be connected to the hose tube and the otherend used for cleaning purposes. If it is desired to use the particularsuction nozzles on the ends of the tool I and it is desired to clean asurface remote from the hands of the operator, the tube 4 may beconnected to the hose 2 and the tool 3 connected to the other end of thewand 4. Thus it is seen that an operator using the improved cleaningtool need carry no accessory parts about with him for all parts which hemay need are always in use. It is merely necessary for him to rearrangethe parts in order to adapt them to his particular need.

While only one embodiment of my invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is obvious that many changes and modifications therein maybe made. For example, if it is desired to use the tool merely as acombination nozzle without serving also as an elbow, the tool may bemade with a straight tube instead of bent, as illustrated, and thetubemay, if desired, be shortened or even completely eliminated exceptfor the part forming part of the nozzles. If it is desired merely to usethe tool as a combination nozzle and elbow, the cleaning nozzle on oneend may be omitted. Also, if desired, the tool as thus modified could bemade integral with the tube 1 and thus permanently ailixed to the end ofthe hose 6.

It is intended that these Letters Patent shall cover all forms of theinvention falling within 1. A combination tool for use with a vacuumcleaner comprising a substantially rigid tube section having straightportions each disposed at an angle to the other and each provided at itsfree end with a cleaning nozzle, each cleaning nozzle having differentcleaning characteristics from the other, the straight portion of eachtube section with its respective nozzle being constructed totelescopically receive and frictionally retain another connecting tubesection, said combination tool serving as a handle by means of which theconnecting tube section may be held or moved, and serving as a joiningmember between said connecting tube section and a tube leading to asource of suction, or usable separately as a nozzle with either endpresentable to work to be cleaned.

2. A combination tool for use primarily with other tubing of a vacuumcleaner and comprising a rigid tube section having two straight endportions disposed at an angle to each other, one provided with a surfacecleaner nozzle including a brush having means for holding the bristlesout of the way, said end portion with its brush being constructed totelescopically freely receive and frictionally retain a connecting tubesection, and the other straight end portion being .provided with asurface cleaning nozzle of different cleaning characteristics and alsoconstructed to telescopically receive and frictionally retain aconnecting tube section, said combination tool being usable as a joiningmember between connecting tube sections or separately as a nozzle witheither end presentable to work to be cleaned and said combination tubesection also serving as a handle by means of which the tubing may beheld or moved.

ROBERT LAY HALLOCK.

